Extension-platform for curved railway-stations.



J. J. FORTH.

EXTENSION PLATFORM FOR GURVED RAILWAY STATIONS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAIB..4, 1914.

Patented May 26, 1914.

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J. J. PORTH. EXTENSION PLATFORM FOR GURVED RAILWAY STATIONS. APPLICATION FILED MAE. 4, 1914.

' 1,09 ,29 Patented May 26,1914.

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EXTENSION-PLATFORM FOR CURVED RAILWAY-STATIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammeaina ae, 1914..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L JOHN J; PoRrH, a citizen'of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, Corona, borough of Queens, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Extension-Platform for Curved Railway-Stations, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. This invention has special reference to improvements in railway station platforms and more particularly to an extension platform for curved railway stations whether convex or concave, the idea being to provide extension devices which project from the usual platform surface and intercept spaces between the platform and the car floor at the doors of the car so as to avoid accidents from persons falling between the platform and cars and rendering unnecessary the usual calls and'signals designed to make the passengers aware of the extreme accuracy of step necessary in order to alight upon the platform or car. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a series of extension devices for curved platforms which will be normally projected to intercept the spaces between the cars and platforms so as not to require the operation of any complicated mechanism or an attendant for moving the same into and out of position and which will also not interfere with the travel of the trains past a station. With the above and other objects in view, the invention resides more particularly in the peculiar combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed, it being also an object to provide a device whichis simple in construction, durable and efficient in operation and not likely to get out of working order.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a convex station platform partly broken away to show the application of the improvement and showing the cars in position to insure the safety of the passengers in boarding and alighting from the cars; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a concave station plat-form with the improvement applied thereto; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the platform and the auxiliary platform showing the manner of supporting the latter-andftherelation of the same to a car; and Fig. tp'is an'enlarged plan view showingone ofthe platform extensions and the manner of holding the same 1n position to intercept the space between the platform proper and a car.

As illustrated in. the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a platform suitably supported with a space thereunder, upon pillars l1 and 12, respectively. This platform is shown as provided with a convex edge adj acent to which the cars 13 of a train are de-- signed to pass. It will be observed that ordinarily the central portions of the cars adjacent to the center doors 14 are disposed n close proximity to the platform proper but that the end doors 15 are disposed at considerably spaced distances from the edge of the platform in such a manner as to render dangerous the boarding and alight-ing of passengers to and from the cars'of the train and even'resulting in the passengers falling between the platform and cars with resultant in uries.

1 The present invention overcomes these obj ections and dangers and consists in provid-, ing a seriesof extension or auxiliary platforms 16 in the form of extensions of the usual platform and arranged beneath the latter. This is accomplished by disposing the pillars 11 in pairs diverging between the convex edge of the platform or substantially radial with respect to a point to which the curved edge of the platform is substantially concentric. Beneath the usual platform are circular ball receiving recess 18 in its upper end for receiving a ball bearing or anti-friction member 19, such devices being preferably arranged in the manner shown in Fig. l of the drawings so as to movably support the auxiliary or extension platform 16 beneath the usual platform. These extension platforms are held centralized and in position to cooperate with the end doors of the cars by means of springs 20 mounted between the edges of the auxiliary or extension platforms and the pillars 11' and preferably mounted on plungers 21 which are slidable through thepillars and which have enlarged engaging portions contacting with the edges of the auxiliary platforms to permit movements of the latter independent thereof by pressure exerted against the auxiliary platforms due to contact with the center portions of the cars in passing. These auxiliary or extension platforms are preferably shaped like sectors of a circle except that their inner ends are squared for the interdisposition' of springs 22 between the pillars 12 and the auxiliary platforms. These springs are held from displacement by means of lugs 23 carried by the pillars l2 and the inner edges of the platforms such as through the instrumentality of depending flanges 24 which also serve to prevent total displacement of the auxiliary platforms from their anti-friction supports.

The outer edges of the auxiliary platforms are of convex curvature so as to avoid engagement of the ends thereof with the car or projections thereof in such a manner as to injure the car or platform or the auxiliary platforms, it being understood that only slight engagement of the central portions of the cars will occur with the auxiliary platforms in passing. As this contact will take place with the platform of the car, which may be suitably reinforced at the side if necessary, the cars will not be injured and the springs heretofore described will be expanded or contracted to permit the inward displacement of the auxiliary platforms and automatically serve to extend or aroject the auxiliary platforms to operative positions when the ends of the cars are adjacent thereto, and it is presumed that a reasonable degree of accuracy in stopping the trains may be acquired in or der to insure the alinement of the ends of the car or the end doors thereof with the auxiliary platforms.

In order to compensate for the wear against the edges of the auxiliary platforms which are provided with grooves 25 equidistantly spaced from the edge portions of the auxiliary platforms, angular wear plates 26 are fitted against the edges of the auxiliary platforms and provided with depending flanges 27 to engage in the grooves 25, while suitable securing means 28 hold the wear plates from displacement laterally. As the trains. approach and pass the auxiliary platforms, as for instance in moving to the right wncn the parts are positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and al the springs 20 at the right hand side will be compressed slightly and the springs 20 at the left hand side will expand slightly, the plnngers moving in 0pposite directions to accord therewith, while the springs 22 will be compressed during the passage of the central portions of the cars but will immediately and normally react to extend the auxiliary platforms to intercept the spaces between the cars and the platform proper when the ends of the cars are adjacent to the auxiliary platforms, the springs 20 being then centralized.

In the form of the invention shown in '1. The combination with a platform having a curved edge adjacent to which the cars pass, said cars having center and end doors; of auxiliary platforms arranged to intercept the spaces between the doorways of the cars and the edge of the platform proper, means for supporting the auxiliary platforms for movement independent of the platform proper, and means co-acting with the inner and side edges of the auxiliary platforms to hold the latter centralized and projected beyond the platform proper to form an alighting surface, said auxiliary platforms automatically retracting by engagement with certain portions of the cars during the passage of the latter by the station.

2. An extension platform for curved railway stations, embodying a platform body, means for supporting the body for longitudinal inward and outward, and lateral movement, pillars arranged adjacent to the body, and means between the pillars and the body to normally centralize and extend the latter to intercept spaces between the station platform proper and cars which pass the $211116.

3. The combination with a platform suitably supported with a space there-beneath and having a curved edge approached by the cars of a train in such a manner as to provide spaces between the cars and the platform; of anti-friction bearing supports arranged at intervals beneath the platform, extensions supported thereon for horizontal movement, and means beneath the platform to distend the extensions between the cars and edge of the platform and to permit the extensions to be forced inwardly during the passage of certain portions of the cars.

l. The combination with a platform suitably supported with a space there-beneath and having a curved edge approached by the cars of a train in such a manner as to provide spaces between the cars and the platform; of anti-friction bearing supports arranged at intervals beneath the platform, extensions supported thereon for horizontal movement, said extensions having curved outer edges and rectilinear side and inner edges forming substantially sectorshaped members, pillars arranged adjacent to said rectilinear edges, and cushioning devices between the pillars and rectilinear edges of the extensions to hold the extensions centralized and projected beyond the edge of the platform and to permit inward and lateral movement of the extensions horizontally.

5. The combination with a platform suitably supported with a space there-beneath and having a curved edge approached by the cars of a train in such a manner as to provide spaces between the cars and the platform; of anti-friction bearing supports arranged at intervals beneath the platform, extensions supported thereon for horizontal movement, means beneath the platform to distend the extensions between the cars and edge of the platform and to permit the extensions to be forced inwardly during the passage of certain portions of the cars, and removable Wear plates for the outer edges of. the extensions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. PORTI-I.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN C. BUSGH, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

